Happy 4th Heart-iversary AnnaSophia!

Today marks the 4th anniversary of AnnaSophia's heart transplant.  It has been a journey full of ups and downs, scary times and triumphs.  Today, I feel very blessed.  I look at my precious daughter, and I am so extremely grateful for our donor family, the Hibberts.  This has been a very bittersweet day.  When I look at AnnaSophia, I feel sweet joy, thankfulness and hope, but there is an ache deep in my heart for Mason's family.  I cannot imagine what it is like to carry on daily without your child...

I know what it's like to live with a critically ill child.  I know what it's like to have a doctor tell you that your child only has two months to live and the wait for a heart is six to nine months long.  I know what it's like to wonder if today is the day that will be your child's last breath.  I know what it's like to mentally plan your child's funeral each day, not knowing how much time you will have left.  But nothing compares to the reality of waking up each day and realizing that your child is not there with you.

What is so amazing to me is that through the nightmare of losing their son, the Hibbert family decided quickly and without hesitation that they would donate their son's organs.  Dave said that the decision was "easy".  Through Mason's death, they would give others a gift of life.

Dave and Char, you are my heroes.

Mason, I think of you daily.  When I walk into my daughter's room in the morning, I see your beautiful, smiling face.

If you have never considered donating your organs, please think about how you can give others the gift of life.  Click here to find out how to register in your state.

AnnaSophia is so full of life.  She loves going to the park.  She wants to constantly keep up with her older brother and sister, running after them, laughing, jumping and dancing.  She is an amazing little girl, who wants so desperately to live life to the fullest.

Thank you Dave and Char, thank you Denver Children's Hospital, thank you to all of AnnaSophia's doctors and nurses, thank you Jilayne, thank you to all who prayed for AnnaSophia, thank you to those of you who lent a shoulder to rest on and cry on.  I wouldn't have my daughter today if it weren't for all of you.

Blessings...

Congenital Heart Defect (CHD) Awareness Week 2012

The problem with having two blogs is that sometimes I'm conflicted about which blog to write on.  This was a tough one.  A lot of people check AnnaSophia's blog for updates on how she's doing.  I've used it to raise awareness about congenital heart defects (CHDs) as well.  I just wrote a new post about Congenital Heart Defect Awareness Week (February 7-14, 2012).  After much thought, I decided to post it to Rabbit Trails and Detours.

The post is all about CHDs, so why did I post it there?  Because Rabbit Trails and Detours is a forum for my mental meanderings and the "what's-going-on-in-my-life" updates.  I realize that I haven't posted much--on either blog.  It's partly because I've been so busy, but it's also partly because I needed a period of time to keep some things to myself.  But, CHD Week is a big part of my life.  This is our second year planning out events and raising awareness in our local community, so I felt like RT&D was the best place to put it.

The problem with a blog is that I feel the need to write and write and write....

The great thing about social media like Facebook is that a person can post a sentence.  It's quick and easy.  For whatever reason, a blog unleashes sentence after sentence.  So before I carry on too much, click here to read all about CHD Week in Colorado Springs...the why, the what and the where.

Blessings.